The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-04

SPEECH BY W. +. N1TCltELb, BEfoNE
THE PEACE CONFERENCE OF CHRISTIANS.
Previous to our civil conflict, we in
this country knew, only by reading, OF
the horrors of war and tie demoraliza-
ton that follows. OF the former we had,
during our great struggle, a full and COM
plete experience; but to the latter, we
are, after ten years, but just awakening.
In fact, we have been repeatedly told that
'.in this respect, our war was an eNcep-
ton; that our soldiers returned, after
the four years experience, to their quiet
avocations, and good citizenship was the
rule as before the rebellion" True it is,
that the sort of vagabonds known as
Cramps" began at once to increase, ana
is hundred fold greater than before the
war. But this might follow a year OF
panic; so we simply speak of it, with
The remark that very large number nt
these people have had an experience i'll
the army, and many wcro educated III
crime by the circumstances attending re-
cruiling. In other words they were
"bounty jumpers"
I do not know that We have Il right to
expect that the effects OF war in the Vita
ton of society will be the same apparent
| IN, though we know they will be rcntiy
the same. Neither have wea right to eX-
pect them to appear Immediately.
The decentralization of society in degree
with so great i war as that which we
wagcd for the suppression OF the REBEL
ion, must be drcp and HorOHgh, and per-
haps years in showing the extent of the
wound. Such it has been, is, and will be
our experience. With no governing
class, our people must in all time be
greatly indebted to the conservative intlu-
ences and institutions Of society, such as
the Sabbath, the Church, the institution
of marriage, and the causes, as we term
them, such as the temperance cause and
other philanthropic movements, for the
common veal.
That the public integrity has been al
most ruined we all admit but we are
told that the people arc still Tight. / think
it can he shown that the restraining forces
or influences Of the community have
been demoralized to far greater extent
than we arc aware, and that, perhaps, the
reason that it has escaped notice or at
tracted so little attention is because OF its
depth and power.
Take for example, the Sabbath. In no
part Of the country has the proper observ-
ance of the Sabbath had its roots SO deep
as in New England. In fact. "As quiet
as a New England Sabbath" has be-
come comparison. Leaving that part
of the country, as did, more than twen-
ty-five years ago, and returning to it five
years siucS, an excellent opportunity was
afforded me to observe the changes which
have taken place in the habits and gcncr-
, al characteristics of the people. a very
great change had taken place i'll the man
ner of observing the first day of the week.
We have i'm Now England Il very large
class of reputable citizens, who never
were in the habit Of attending public Wor'
ship, though not opposed to it. These
wore formerly Keepers at home on the
Sabbath, so far respecting the feelings OF
| Christian people as to avoid giving OIL
! fence by making it day of pleasure.
| This class always held the Church. as
we technically call it, to strict conSslcn-
cy. May it not bo that the attitude OF The
Christian community during the Cate war
may have deprived these OF what little
respect they had for religion? Suffice u
to say, the sabbath is HOW largely their
day of recreation, and their position and
inlluen &c are Just opposite to what they
were before the war.
! But by far the more serious change Is
tO he found in the people at large. The
want of Sabbath and sanctuary privileges
by thousands OF her population, during
our four years Of conflict, has told upon
the church going community with great
force, causing hundreds to look forward
| to the day as Il holiday, with no moro re-
gard for it than for the Fourth OF July.
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